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When Money's Tight, Children Shouldn't Suffer

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By DAVID A. BUNDY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 30, 2008

Recent newspaper articles and TV reports around the state have been checkered with stories of horrific child abuse and neglect:

In Hillsborough County, a 2-year-old boy was beaten with a teeball bat. In Brevard County, 3- and 7-year-old children suffered severe ongoing beatings with a belt. In Pinellas County, an 8-year-old boy was tied to a coffee table and beaten for three hours by a relative who was babysitting him.

In Manatee County, a 13-year-old girl nearly stopped breathing when her stepfather grabbed her by the neck and threw her against the wall during an argument over dirty dishes. In Sarasota County, an infant was suffocated after being left facedown in her bassinet overnight.

And in Seminole County, a 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy endured horrible physical and sexual abuse for more than six years. All of this was reported just within the last few weeks.

After more than 30 years in child welfare, I am still shocked by the actions of parents and my heart aches for every defenseless child tortured, molested or starved. But, sadly, I am not surprised. In Lee County, a 14-month-old boy suffered abuse so extreme that he ultimately died of internal bleeding caused by his mother's fiance, who was "frustrated over financial issues."

Such senseless and heartbreaking stories will likely become even more common as Florida's economic struggles continue. Research shows that financial stress is a key trigger of child abuse and neglect. From October 2006 to December 2007, when the housing bubble burst and foreclosures skyrocketed, Florida's Abuse Hotline recorded a 15 percent increase in calls.

This will drive up the already staggering need for services to vulnerable children. Many forms of help are needed: intervention programs simply to save children from harm; parent education and in-home services to help prevent abuse and neglect; recruitment and training of foster and adoptive parents; and post-adoption counseling to aid both the children and their new parents.

Legislators protected child welfare services from cuts during the last budget reduction. As child advocates, we appreciate their thoughtful approach to an often unseen but essential job and urge their continued defense of services that enable our communities to protect, nurture, redirect, and rebuild a sense of trust among those who will become the next generation of parents. It is a sad irony that such services are most needed in times when they are most difficult to fund.

We can succeed in breaking the tragic cycle of abuse and neglect for increasing numbers of children if we, as citizens and community members, join with our government as champions for children. We all must step up to do what is right and best for those who have no vote and no voice.

David A. Bundy is president/CEO of Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS). Founded in 1902, CHS served more than 90,000 children and family members in fiscal 2007, is Florida's largest statewide private not-for-profit serving children and families, and

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